# NTSB ERA23LA101: Cessna 340A, N824BC, Atlantic Ocean, Turks & Caicos Islands, January 3, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: January 3, 2023, 16:22 local (16:22 UTC)
- Place: Atlantic Ocean, Turks & Caicos Islands · Deep water 14.5 SE of Grand Turk
- Coordinates: 21.17, -70.57 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.1700&lon=-70.5700&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/IFO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 106542
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA101
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106542/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106542
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA101

## Probable cause

A fuel system malfunction for reasons that could not be determined, which resulted in fuel starvation to both engines.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Fuel system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 340A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md?model=2076405), [All aircraft, 181 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-descent: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 340A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2076405), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md)
- [Enroute-descent: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191); cases with it: [Cessna 340A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2076405), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [Cessna 340A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=2076405), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he began the accident flight with 160 gallons of fuel on board. The airplane was equipped with two main wingtip fuel tanks, two in-wing auxiliary fuel tanks, and one engine nacelle locker fuel tank. His normal procedure was to operate for 50 minutes out of the main tanks, then use most of the fuel in the auxiliary tanks, then transfer fuel out of the locker tank and use all of that fuel. While approaching the destination airport, he attempted to transfer fuel from the locker tank; however, he later noticed that fuel was not transferring from that tank. Later, the right engine lost all power, followed by the left. He subsequently ditched the airplane in the ocean about 17 miles from of the destination airport. The airplane landed on the water, and the pilot and his passengers donned life vests and egressed before the airplane sank. The occupants were rescued about 4 hours later. The airplane was not recovered from the ocean and was presumed substantially damaged. A postaccident examination of the fuel system could not be performed and the reason for the pilot’s inability to transfer fuel from the engine nacelle locker tank could not be determined.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N824BC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N824BC), registered now, S/N 340A0306, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 340A
- Registry model: [Cessna 340A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-340a) (registry code 2076405) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 340A0306
- Year built: 1977
- Airframe hours: 4795
- Engines: Continental TSIO-520 Series 335 horsepower reciprocating; Continental TSIO-520 Series 335 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Aonvo Investment LLC
- Registered owner: Aonvo Investment LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 28, 2022
- Departed: TKPK, St. Kitts, AO
- Destination: PLS, Providenciales, AO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 18, 2022; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 288 total, 250 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Observed at: MBGT, 37 nm away
- METAR: MBGT 031700Z 08008KT 9999 FEW015TCU SCT040 27/19 Q1021

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 15, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106542. 27.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 6 pages, 26.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15189283&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's written statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 9 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15233122&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2a%20Additional%20Written%20Statement%20from%20Pilot-Rel.pdf
- Police report - royal turks and caicos police (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 194 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15190007&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6%20Police%20Report%20Turks%20and%20Caicos_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA form 8020-6 report of aircraft accident (w/ ATC summary) (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 639 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15233739&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=7%20FAA%20Form%20Report%20of%20Aircraft%20Accident_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- NTSB memorandum for record - FAA statement (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15235526&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Statement-Rel.pdf

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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